Description

Title:    Payroll and Benefits Specialist   

Department:  Finance   

Reports to:  Chief Finance Officer & Director of Human Resources   

Status:  Part-time, not benefit eligible 

Classification:  Part-time, non-exempt  

Hours:  M-F, 20 hours/week 

Location:  Brookside 

Jewish Family Services (www.jfskc.org) Since 1901, Jewish Family Services (JFS), has supported and strengthened lives throughout Greater Kansas City. We provide essential human services for people of all faiths, ages, cultures, and identities who are facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis. Our highly skilled and compassionate staff are dedicated to furthering the well-being, stability, and dignity of the community members we serve. As a 501 (c) (3) public charity, JFS offers a breadth of connected services including Social Work, Older Adult Services, Food Pantry, Mental Health and Education, and Jewish life. JFS was founded on the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world, one person, one family at a time.    

Position Summary: 

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist is responsible for accurately processing payroll and administering employee benefits programs. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while providing excellent support to employees regarding payroll, benefits, and related inquiries. 

Requirements

Essential Duties: 

• Process bi-weekly payroll for all employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness 
• Maintain payroll records, including wages, deductions, bonuses, and taxes 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations 
• Reconcile payroll reports and resolve discrepancies 
• Coordinate with external payroll provider for payroll tax reports 
• Process garnishments, levies, and other payroll adjustments 
• Assist in administering employee benefits programs including health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and leave programs 
• Manage employee enrollments, changes, and terminations in benefits systems 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions 
• Coordinate open enrollment activities and employee communications 
• Liaise with benefits vendors and brokers to resolve issues and ensure accurate billing 
• Reconcile benefits invoices and ensure accurate payroll deductions 
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and other applicable regulations 
• Maintain accurate employee records and documentation 
• Assist with audits related to payroll and benefits 
• Generate payroll and benefits reports for management as requested 
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee information 

Essential Education, Knowledge, and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (Human Resources is highly preferred: related field accepted). 
• Three years or more or related experience in an agency/company of similar complexity. 
• Experience with payroll systems (Paylocity preferred) and benefits administration platforms 
• Tech-savvy, with aptitude for learning and implementing new technology platforms and tools. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite  
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Environmental/Physical Requirements: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: 

• Frequently required to sit, stand, talk, and hear? 
• Able to work in a communal work environment. 
• Ability to effectively use office equipment, such as video conferencing, digital phone system, Windows/Office, printer, copier, and fax machine.  

Key Competencies: 

• Cultural Humility: Engage in the regular practice of self-reflection on how one’s own background and the background of others impact workplace experiences.  
• Organizational Leader: Must have an innovative mindset and create and maintain a strong reputation as a strategic doer, demonstrating agility and collaboration throughout the organization.  
• Emotional Intelligence: Empathy and strong interpersonal skills are essential. Must be compassionate, self-aware, and able to skillfully manage their emotions and those of others. 
• Adaptability: Must have a strong sense of urgency and ability to work efficiently under sometimes rapidly changing circumstances. 
• Integrity: Must utilize effective judgement and problem-solving skills while maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards. 

Guiding Principles:  

JFS is guided by five principles informing how we engage with each other and the community we serve. The right candidate will be in alignment with these values:  

1. B’Yachad - Stronger Together: We are stronger as an agency and a community when we think, work, and serve together.  
2. Being Human-Centered: We put the human experience and perspective at the center of our thinking, programming, services, and interactions.  
3. Collaboration: We actively seek partnering opportunities within JFS and throughout our community.  
4. Innovation & Entrepreneurship: We respond and continually adapt to ongoing needs and changes in Kansas City.  
5. Open Communication: We communicate openly, honestly, and in a solution-oriented manner.  

EEO: Jewish Family Services is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need. All applicants will be considered for employment with dignity and respect, free of all discrimination, including that which is based on race, color, religion, gender, language, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.?